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Only one thing stands in her way, and it's a big thing. Janie is tired of being sucked into other people's dreams. It's been happening since she was just eight years old and it's getting worse. If she's anywhere near a sleeping person, then ''bam!'' - she's dreaming with them. It wouldn't be so bad if it was only kissing-the-best-boy-in-school dreams or the naked-in-public dreams, but it isn't. It's the nightmares too, and when the dreamers see her and ask for her help, it's very tough to take. Cabel's dreams are the most disturbing and as the two of them inch towards a first romance, it shows Janie that he has deep and dark secrets that might threaten everything, even college...
When I came to think about what I'd say in this review, I realised I had a surprising number of criticisms to make. ''Wake'' mixes a great many of elements in its few pages - there's a supernatural aspect in Janie's telepathy through dreams, there's a kitchen sink drama going on in her neglectful home life, there's a first love story, there's a comedy of manners, and a thriller-come-crime-caper too. It's a lot to blend successfully, and while McCann succeeds more often than not, there are some moments where the whole thing gets a bit schizophrenic. The thriller element of the plot is sometimes moved on through things Janie sees in other people's dreams and this seems somewhat cheaty. Dreams are oblique and seldom direct representations of our waking lives and y'know, however supernaturally talented you are, it's unlikely criminals are going to give you such direct clues when you invade their dreams. This needed to be much more subtle for real success I think.
However, the main thing that I took away from ''Wake'' was a feeling that I'd thoroughly enjoyed the read - and not wanted to put down the book while I ''was'' reading - and so these problems are far outweighed by the positives. Janie is a sterling central character: feisty and determined but beset with doubts, and doing her best to overcome her disadvantaged background. McCann communicates her mother's neglect vividly and touchingly, with a great sense for the kinds of childhood humilations that we all carry with us throughout our adult lives. The love story is sweet and affecting and truly believable. The writing is efficient and punchy and pacy, and we aren't stuck in pages and pages of digression, something I really appreciate.